Sponsorship Package Yields Yearly Brand Presence Around The Network's Monthly Movie Programming
New York, NY, November 8, 2006 – AMC, basic cable's premiere destination dedicated to movies and movie culture, announced today that Hyundai has signed on, for the second year in a row, to be the exclusive entitlement sponsor for the network's Movie of the Month franchise. AMC and Hyundai's initial relationship was historic for the network as it marked the first time the network offered an entitlement opportunity to a sponsor. This ad buy is part of AMC's overall ad sales strategy to create branding opportunities for advertisers by leveraging the network's comprehensive movie library, allotting for additional revenue streams. The year-long sponsorship package, beginning now through September 2007, was renegotiated for the upfront year through World Marketing Group, the in-house media arm for Hyundai Motor America.
"With AMC's comprehensive movie library the network is able to leverage its films to not only create branding opportunities for advertisers but also to generate additional revenue streams for the network," said Arlene Manos, president of Rainbow National Network Advertising Sales. " The Hyundai Movie of the Month is an excellent example of how a popular AMC franchise can provide a long-term branding opportunity to an advertiser that includes both brand continuity and category exclusivity."
Each month on AMC, the network chooses one landmark "movie of the month" to showcase that premieres with content that includes the making of the movie and fun trivia facts wrapped around each film. As part of sponsorship agreement, Hyundai will receive exclusive entitlement, allowing for their brand presence to be directly linked to movies for four broadcasts of each monthly film. They will also receive category exclusivity allowing for no other automotive company to be promoted. Elements include entitled show opens, integrated tune-ins, customized factoids specific to a Hyundai brand, ad units within each film, and this year, additional bumpers in every airing. The on-air Hyundai ownership of the program extends to amctv.com. Web presence includes a custom microsite for Movie of the Month. Hyundai also receives a customized e-mail blast sent to Hyundai dealership representatives on a monthly basis.
November's Hyundai Movie of the Month is GHOST (1990) starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. Upcoming Hyundai Movie of the Month will feature MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947) starring Natalie Wood and the network premieres of DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990) starring Kevin Costner and Mary McDonnell; SPLASH (1984) starring Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy and John Candy; Moulin Rouge! (2001) starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor; and THE FIRM (1993) starring Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Gene Hackman.
AMC's commitment to the original programming genre has garnered substantial ratings growth for the network. The record breaking premiere of AMC's first original movie-event, Broken Trail, ranked as the #1 cable telecast of 2006 to-date, and helped the network garner its strongest summer performance ever in primetime household ratings and delivery. Additionally, AMC ranked among the top ten networks in primetime HH rating, HH delivery and performance of key demos for the summer.
Source: Nielsen Media Research. Comparison of Broken Trail HH Ratings performance (6/25-6/26/06) to all individual telecasts on ad-supported cable 2006 thru 8/27/06. M-Su 8-11P Summer (05/26/06-8/27/06) performance compared to previous June-Aug performances on AMC. Rank among all ad-supported cable networks broadcasting more than 51% of the M-Su 8-11P daypart 05/26/06-8/27/06.
About AMC
AMC, a division of Rainbow Media's Entertainment Services, which also includes WE and IFC Companies, is a 24-hour, movie-based network, dedicated to the American movie fan. The network, which reaches over 86,000,000 homes, offers a comprehensive library of popular movies and a critically-acclaimed slate of original programming that is a diverse, movie-based mix of original series, documentaries and specials. AMC has garnered many of the industry's highest honors, including 14 Emmy awards. AMC is "TV for movie people."
About Hyundai
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed in the U.S. by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 740 dealers throughout the nation.
About World Marketing Group
WMG is the in-house media arm for Hyundai Motor America. The company is located in Irvine, California and is responsible for managing all media planning and buying for both brands.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands including popular national and regional television channels AMC, fuse, The Independent Film Channel (IFC), WE tv, and two FSN affiliated regional sports networks managed by Rainbow Sports Networks. The company also manages Mag Rack and sportskool, two original on-demand networks; VOOM HD Networks, the largest and most diverse suite of high definition channels available anywhere; IFC Entertainment, its film distribution, production and exhibition division; Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales division; and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.